Page 2 of An Unwanted Widow for the Duke
The ladies giggled at that.
“I thought you were about to help,” Gerard grumbled low, only for Samuel’s ears. “But you are making it worse.”
“Of course. I live to serve you, it seems,” Samuel whispered back dryly.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gerard saw a footman heading his way.
The footman looked pale and nervous.
Gerard frowned. What was going on?
“Your Grace, may I have a word with you?” the footman asked.
“Certainly,” Gerard replied, then faced his guests. “If you’ll excuse me. Do enjoy the games and refreshments. I will be back soon.”
Swiftly, he followed the restless footman into the house.
“Your Grace, there’s been, uh, an incident,” the footman said when they stood on the edge of the garden, out of earshot.
“An incident?” Gerard’s eyebrows shot up.
“Er, with Lord Hector.”
Gerard exhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose. He took a deep breath. “What is it this time?”
The footman opened his mouth to respond when a shriek rang out from the garden.
“Papa! Papa, look!”
Hector came charging across the lawn like a mini barbarian, his arms flailing, his face streaked with mud, paint, and what looked suspiciously like charcoal. Someone had apparently tried to contain the chaos, as a child-sized apron hung around his neck, untied and utterly useless.
Guests gasped. A few giggled.
Gerard marched towards him, his guests much closer than he’d like now.
“You told me not to interrupt, but Ihaveto tell you!” Hector shouted at the top of his lungs, oblivious to his audience. “I wasdrawing the sundial in the maze. Then, I thought I should help Mr. Liddel with the sunflowers and rhododendrons?—”
Gerard groaned. He didn’t need to hear the rest to imagine the carnage.
“But then I found some beetles!” Hector continued breathlessly. “So I had to do some digging!”
“Good heavens!” Miss Sedgewick cried, pressing a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide as she stepped back to avoid the oncoming storm.
Gerard could understand now that his guests were standing right behind.
“What on earth is that?” one of the ladies gasped, recoiling as though she might faint—or be sick.
“No, no,look,” Hector insisted, holding out his palm with great care. A beetle sat proudly in the center of it. “It’s a beetle. Aren’t they marvelous? So many legs! So much purpose!”
The lady staggered backward with a muffled squeak.
“Lord Hector,” another lady called nervously, “where is your governess? Shouldn’t you be inside? Or at least at the refreshments table?”
“You are quite right,” Miss Sedgewick scoffed, fanning herself briskly. “His governess ought to keep him in check.”
Gerard turned toward them with sharp precision, his voice cold and clipped. “Miss Sedgewick. Miss Eden. My son’s behavior and his education are entirely my concern, not yours.”
Miss Sedgewick blanched. “O-Of course, Your Grace,” she stammered. “I meant no offense. Lord Hector is a lovely boy. I only thought of his well-being?—”
